Will lives with the Banks family in Bel-Air. The household is led by his aunt Vivian Banks and uncle Philip “Uncle Phil” Banks, who take Will in after his mother sends him away from Philadelphia.
The Banks family gives the series its main setting and much of its conflict. Their wealth, education, and formal lifestyle contrast with Will’s working-class background and energetic personality. Will is also part of the family’s extended relationships through his cousins Hilary, Carlton, Ashley, and, later, Nicky. Although he initially feels like an outsider, the story gradually presents him as a genuine member of the household.
Philip Banks is a successful lawyer who later becomes a Superior Court judge, while Vivian is portrayed as intelligent, ambitious, and deeply involved in raising the family. The surname can be confused with Will’s own surname, Smith, because the title character is often the most prominent person on screen. However, Smith is Will’s name; Banks is the family name of the relatives whose Bel-Air home he joins. The sitcom aired on NBC from 1990 to 1996 and featured 148 episodes across six seasons.